04.06.09 Byzantine - Early Byzantine Art

CONSTANTINOPLE = BYZANTIUM = ISTANBUL:THEOCRACY:PENDENTIVES or SQUINCHES: are the big triangles that curve to support the dome

JUSTINIAN AS WORLD CONQUEROR, MID 6TH: Byzantine - Early Byzantine Art Justinian – came from humble family – he was a soldier – strange series of events is how he became emperor He conducted a series of wars – he wanted to restore the roman empire to its original extent Made out of ivory (elephant tusks) – very luxurious and expensive 13” x 10” – originally was like a book cover you can tell where there used to be hinges Every inch is covered with detail Man behind the spear is dressed as a barbarian and he is now touching the spear Below is a woman figure – she resembles fruit and abundance maybe the earth – she is touching Justinian’s foot To the side is a soldier – hold a statue of victory Along the bottom – group of figures that represent different groups from around the world – there are animals - they are all

bringing gifts There are winged figures – representing the idea of victory Everyone shown is submissive to him The only Christian part – directly above Justinian’s head is a figure that is supposed to represent Christ = making a gesture of

blessing

HAGIA SOPHIA BY ANTHEMIUS OF TRALLES AND ISIDOROUS OF MILETUS: Byzantine - Early Byzantine Art HAGIA SOPHIA = church of holy wisdom This is the second Hagia Sophia ever built – the first one burned down because of riots – it is thought that the old one is

underneath this new one This is a statement of Justinian’s power This later was converted into a Muslim mask – and currently it is a museum The towers on the corners were added later In the center is the dome and then along the sides are smaller domes – this is the main body of the church Where the clear glass is along the bottom – there used to be colored glass which made the dome look as though it were

floating This dome is very light weight – made of bricks that have been mortared together = not very stable – has been repaired

numerous times This is a round dome over a square building – very different from the Pantheon Supported using pendentives Hard to figure how this was used during Justinian’s time because it was turned into a mask – they tried to destroy any

Christian images – but we have descriptions that say there was originally very ornate designs here

SAN VITALE, RAVENNA: Byzantine - Early Byzantine Art After Ravenna was conquered he sent men to build this church He didn’t build government buildings he built churches San Vitale = Saint Vitales – the two Vitales sons were supposedly killed here – made the church seem more holy From the outside this church is very plain – the focus is on the interior space – spiritual realm There are stairs that lead to a second story where there is a gallery Over time they have lost a little bit of the decoration Originally every inch of the interior was made of either marble or mosaic The alter has windows around it – windows are made of alabaster Above the alter there is a dome – which will symbolize heaven – that has mosaics on it In the center of the mosaic there is a lamb with angels surrounding - underneath that there is a half dome with a mosaic in it -

five characters – the second coming of Christ – based on prediction I n the bible – the book of revelations For the center figure is the depiction of Christ’s he is on a dome of heaven and there are four rivers flowing from him – the

angels on the sides are introducing people into heaven and the people who are being introduced into heaven – one is saint Vitale (depicted here he is hiding his hands)

The other figure at the other end – is the bishop who started building this church - he is trying to present something to Christ – it is the church

SAN VITALE, RAVENNA – APSE MOSIACS – CHRIST BETWEEN TWO ANGELS (JUSTINIAN AND ATTENDANTS): Byzantine - Early Byzantine Art

This row of figures stare right out at us – there feet are really odd – this is a procession – these are the members of the clergy Then Justinian and his government followers and then the soldiers Justinian’s feet are depicted as standing atop the person next to him – the faces are really detailed though The only one who gets a label is the bishop - but we can identify who the rest of the figures are – Justinian is depicted here

with a Halo He has a huge crown and a purple cloche – represents power - he is holding something (an offering a bowl for the bread ) The shield of the soldier – and X and a P – the first two letters when you write Christ Background is just gold

SAN VITALE, RAVENNA – APSE MOSIACS – CHRIST BETWEEN TWO ANGELS (THEODORE AND ATTENDANTS): Byzantine – Early Byzantine Art

This is Justinian’s wife – Theodora – when she traveled she took 4,000 attendants with her and some of them are depicted here

She is framed by some sort of Niche in the background She is depicted here with a halo She has a crown here – she is offering a gift – the chalice to hold the wine She is dressed in purple and she has three kings along the bottom of her robe that are bringing gifts The background seems to be some sort of particular space – women were never allowed by the altar These images are created in their place because they never actually made it here

CHRIST PANTOCRATOR, 6TH C.: Byzantine - Early Byzantine Art This is an icon – on a wood panel – 32” high Close up picture of Christ – looks like he is standing in front of a niche He is just staring out at the viewer He is holding some sort of very grand bible Has a huge golden halo Trying to make him look natural – not perfectly symmetrical The eyes are emphasized in this hypnotical gaze

VIRGIN (THEOTOKOS) AND CHILD BETWEEN ST. THEODORE AND ST. GEORGE: Byzantine - Early Byzantine Art This is an icon Image of Mary with the Christ child on her lap 27” high 6 figures that fill the whole panel Up at the top is the hand of god with a ray of light coming down Angels look as though they are painted in a different manner The main group – virgin Mary in deep blue – Christ child in gold – they don’t look at you The saints to the sides look at you – dressed in the costume of the people who protected the emperor and empress – these

saints were both soldiers – here they are depicted as a sort of body guard